Switch-operating mechanism.



, W. M. HOLMBERG.

SWITCH OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. 29. 1918.

1,300,958. Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

2 SHEET$SHEET latto wlqua ms NoRms Psrsns m4 r-waYnvurnnu wAsnINcmN. M,

W. M. HOLMBERG.

SWITCH- OPERATING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION man on. 29. 1918,

v1,300,968. Patented Apr. 15,1919.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- Snow i101 atto'rmu SWITCH-OPERATING MECHANISM.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Apr. 15, 1919.

Application filed October 29, 1918. Serial No. 260,125.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM M. HOLM- BERG, a citizen of Sweden, residing at Millbury, in the county of Worcester and State of Massachusetts, have invented new and useful Improvements in Switch-Operating Mechanism, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to switch operating mechanism and more particularly to that type of mechanism designed to be carried by a car and to control certain elements mounted on the track thereof for throwing a switch for the purpose of enabling the car to proceed in either direction, that is on the main track oron a track branching from the main track.

One of the objects of the invention is to provide a plurality of shoes normally held in an inoperative position by means of springs or the like, these shoes being carried by vertically reciprocable rods controlled by levers, and suitable means for operating the levers, the means last mentioned being within convenient reach of the motorman or other operator of the car.

A still further object is to provide a plurality ofshoes either of which is adapted to engage a movable switch point for the purpose of throwing the latter in a given direction in order to enable the car to proceed on the main line or a branch line, these shoes being mounted for movement vertically into and out of operative position, the movement being controlled by suitable mechanism within the reach of the operator of the car.

With the foregoing and other objects in view, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of elements hereinafter described and claimed.

In the drawings,

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic view showing a section of track, including a siding and switch rail;

Fig. 2 is a view in elevation showing the manner of mounting the operating mechanism on the car truck and platform;

Fig. 8 is a bottom plan view;

Figs. 4 and 5 are details showing the engagement of the switch rail by the shoes;

Fig. 6 is a detail in section showing the slidable mounting of the pivotal element of the operating levers.

In carrying out my invention I mount on the truck of the car a frame 10 which may comprise a U-shaped portion and a laterally extending member 12, the latter being connected with the axle near the middle portion thereof and the outer member of the U- shaped element being connected with the extreme end of the axle as shown at 13.

The" front axle is designated 15 and is mounted for swinging or pivotal movement by means of a king bolt 16. The frame 10 carries a bracket or the like designated 18 having apertures in the upper and lower plate members thereof for the accommodation of vertically movable stems or rods 19 and 20, these rods carrying at their lower ends the shoes 21 and 22 designed to engage the switch point and to throw the latter in either direction depending upon the particular shoe operated at a given time. The shoe 21 is pivotally connected with a pivotally mounted arm 23 provided with slots 24 and 25 permitting the necessary play, the opposite end of the arm 23 being connected with a vertically movable rod 25 having a loop or handle member 26 at the upper end thereof located within convenient reach of the motorman or other operator of the car or' train. This rod 25 operates within the sleeve 27 and the upward movement of the rod throws the shoe 21 into position for en gaging the switch point. The shoe is normally retained in an upper or inoperative position by means of a spring 28. y

The other shoe 22 is similarly operated by means of rod 20 pivotally connected with pivoted arm 23 and with vertically extending rod 25 controlled by handle member 26. The sleeve for this rod last named is designated 27 The slotted portions 5 of the arms 23 and 23 each receives a transverse pin 6 in a slotted mounting element 7 the element last named being provided with a head 8 operating in a slot 9 in a plate 9 carried by the under side of the car body. The movement of the element 7 in the slot 9 provides lateral play when the truck and the axle assumes a position at an angle with reference to the longitudinal axis of the car. Each bar 23 and 23' is provided with a hinge connection shown at 4, these bars last named therefore comprising in reality a plurality of jointed sections, further accommodating the movement of the truck at an angle with reference to the car.

The shoes 21 and 22 are provided with cutaway portions as shown in order to per? mit of their proper engagement with the switch point. These cutaway portions are deflected in opposite directions and engage the switch point between the latter and the rails, being provided with a narrow edge or blade. 7

In order to show the operation of the device, I have illustrated diagrammatically a section of track with a switch, the movable switch point being designated 30-and being pivotally mounted at 31 and provided with an arm 32 extending at an angle alongside of the rail 33. A guide rail is shown at 34 and is parallel with the rail 35 of the main track. A second or branch track includes the rails 36 and37, and between the latter is mounted a rail member 38 having an angularly extending portion 39 connected therewith, this element 39 extending alongside of rail 37.

In the operation of the device, either one of the shoes 21 or 22 is thrown to operative position for the purpose of moving the switch point 30 in the requireddirection for switching the car to either track.

What is claimed is:

1. In a device of the class described, a car including a truck and a plurality of wheels mounted'thereon, a frame carried by said truck and'including a plurality of horizontally extending elements, vertically movable rodspassing through said horizontal elements, springs mounted between said elements and connected with the rods for-normally throwing the latter upwardly,a shoe carried by the lower end of each rod, a pivotally mounted lever connected with each rod, a laterally slidable element for eifecting the pivotal mounting of each lever, and a vertically movable rod connected with the oppofor mounting each shoe, means for normally holding each shoe in an upper and inoperative position, means for throwing each rod downwardly to an operative position, said means last named comprising a plurality of pivotally mounted arms formed in hingedly connected sections, a laterally movable device and a transverse pin therein, said pin passing through a slot in each arm for effecting the pivotal mounting thereof, operating means for the arm and means'for mounting the vertical elements carrying the shoes on the truck of a car.

8. In a device of the class described, a plurality of shoes for engaging and throwing the switch point, a vertical rod for mounting each shoe, a spring controlling the position of the rod, meansfor mounting said rods on a car truck mounted for angular movement, a pivoted'arm connected with each vertical element and comprising a plurality of jointed sections, said arms being slotted at their ends and being slotted at a point intermediate of the'ends, means movable transversely of the car body for effecting the pivotal mounting of the arms at their intermediate portions, certain'slotted ends of the arms having connection with the vertically movable elements, and means connected with the opposite ends of the arms and with the slotted portions at said ends for throwing the arms into position for operating the shoes independently.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature WILLIAM M. HOLMBERG.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by'addressing the Commissioner of r'atents, Washington, D. G. 

